The Wedding by Julie Garwood Read Free Book Online Page A

Quinlan had stayed on with the MacAlister clan, however. It was Connor’s intelligence, his relentless thirst for justice, and his unwavering leadership abilities that kept the warrior by his side. As his loyal follower, Quinlan would give his life to keep his laird safe. Connor had already saved him once, and Quinlan knew his laird would willingly do so again and again, regardless of the risk. The other men felt the same way Quinlan did, for Connor treated all of his followers as valuable members of his family.
    Quinlan wasn’t just a loyal follower; he was also a close friend, and like all the other MacAlisters, he too embraced his grudges, stroking them like lovers for years and years if need be, until he could find a way to right a wrong done to him or his family.
    â€œIt isn’t too late to change your mind,” Quinlan remarked. “There are other ways to retaliate against MacNare on my father’s behalf.”
    â€œNo. I’ve already sent word to my stepmother that I am taking a bride, and nothing you can say to me will make me change my mind.”
    â€œDo you think Euphemia will finally come back then?”
    â€œProbably not,” Connor answered. “She finds it too difficult to return to our land since my father was taken from her. She mourns his passing even to this day.”
    â€œWhat about Alec? Your brother ordered you to end this feud, and you gave him your word to do just that.”
    â€œYes, and this will be my last insult. It will surely pain MacNare for a long, long time. I’ll have to be content with that. You know how hungry the pig is for an alliance with the English. We’ll use his greed to our advantage. Remember, friend, he shamed and humiliated your family.”
    â€œAnd we warred against him for his treachery.”
    â€œIt wasn’t enough,” Connor decreed. “When I’m finished, your father will be able to hold his head up again. He’ll be vindicated.”
    Quinlan suddenly laughed. “I’m thinking God had a hand in this, Connor. We didn’t know until this morning the name of the daughter you meant to take. Do you remember her yet?”
    â€œShe wasn’t easy to forget. Besides, I now have a better reason to give to Alec. That is more important to me.”
    â€œYour brother’s going to be furious all the same.”
    â€œNo, he’ll be pleased once I make him realize the Englishwoman betrothed herself to me long ago.”
    â€œAnd what will you tell him?”
    â€œThe truth. She did ask me to marry her. You haven’t forgotten that fact. You laughed for a week.”
    Quinlan nodded. “She asked you three times, but I would remind you that was years ago. She will surely have forgotten.”
    Connor smiled. “Will that matter?”
    Â 
    Lady Brenna was suddenly overcome with the eerie sensation that someone or something was watching her. She was kneeling by the side of a shallow stream, drying her face and her hands with her embroidered cloth, when she felt a presence behind her.
    She didn’t make any quick movements. She knew better than to jump up and run back to camp. If a wild boar or worse were close by, any sudden actions would only draw more attention to herself.
    She pulled her dagger free and slowly turned as she stood up, bracing herself for what might be lurking in the dark underbrush.
    There wasn’t anything there. She waited several minutes for the threat to present itself, and still nothing moved. The only sound she heard was the loud thundering of her own heartbeat.
    It had been foolish for her to walk so far away from where her father’s men had made the nooning camp. If anything happened, she had no one to blame but herself, and if she hadn’t been so desperate for a moment alone, she would have thought more about the possible consequences. She still would have gone in search of privacy, of course, but she would have taken the necessary